Verizon Rejected iPhone Deal due to Apple's Terms

[bayportbob]

i would have preferred iPhone on Verizon because Verizon coverage is better nationwide than Cingular/AT&T. i have been with Verizon since they were PrimeCo and don't want to change because my phone works well almost everywhere i travel which is what i desire with my mobile phone provider.

i would like to get an iPhone just to have one not cause i need it, you know how that goes. but i really have not heard a lot good about Cingular/AT&T for phone network coverage the same as i have heard good about Verizon. that is the deal breaker for me to switch.

maybe in 5 years the iPhone will be on more networks, or not, only time will tell if this iPhone - Cingular/AT&T marriage is going to be a good one.

 

[gugy]

If Verizon was the iPhone carrier, it would make my adoption of it much easier since they are my carrier to date. I live where Verizon works much better than Cingular and thus would be trading better signal coverage for worse if I were to adopt an iPhone. So I'm torn about this.

I am exactly in the same boat as you.
Unfortunately Verizon seems to work better where I live. I need to do a test drive get Cingular phone from a friend and see if they improved their reception since the last time I was their customer 5 years ago.
If I can get reception, then I am pretty sure I'll switch to Cingular, as long as they offer a discount in their plans. If not, I will keep my Verizon and wait for the 5" widescreen iPod and just move on with life.

From what I've read I would buy the iPhone tomorrow but there is no way in hell I would drop Verizon to get it. Verizon is in a league all its own when it comes to cell coverage and voice network bandwidth. In every major metropolitan area I've been in my Verizon service has always been better than when I had Cingular or T-Mobile. Verizon leads in nearly every satisfaction survey when it comes to coverage and voice quality. That said, Verizon is one greedy company and I hate how they hamstring features to squeeze some extra revenue out of their customers. Still, at the end of the day the network reins supreme and this where Apple is making a huge mistake.

Ditto.
I just hope Cingular has a better coverage now where i live. If not, why would I want the best phone in the world(iPhone) if I can't use it?

 

[thumb]

I am very glad Apple is trying to change the way cell carriers handle their phones and customer service. Verizon has a deplorable history of handicapping their handsets, an amount of control over another companies products that Jobs would never accept. For me, I would rather the carrier company be invisible, and my choices be which phone manufacturer, not the other way around.

 

[Mulyahnto]

i would have preferred iPhone on Verizon because Verizon coverage is better nationwide than Cingular/AT&T. i have been with Verizon since they were PrimeCo and don't want to change because my phone works well almost everywhere i travel which is what i desire with my mobile phone provider.

i would like to get an iPhone just to have one not cause i need it, you know how that goes. but i really have not heard a lot good about Cingular/AT&T for phone network coverage the same as i have heard good about Verizon. that is the deal breaker for me to switch.

maybe in 5 years the iPhone will be on more networks, or not, only time will tell if this iPhone - Cingular/AT&T marriage is going to be a good one.

One word why to chose Cingular over Verizon: GSM

 

[pagansoul]

I live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and have had both Cing and T cells and never had any problem with their services. Never had a Verizon phone but the people that I work with don't have any problem. The thing is is that I never used the extra stuff on my phones, only talk. I've purchased only one ring-tone just to see how it worked. I love the look of the iphone but don't see me getting one this year. This year I am saving for a new Mac Pro. I have a PPC iMac that is on its 3rd year so that is that. I do not understand why people are getting so crazy about the contract/deals made between Apple and AT&T/Cing/BellS...we will see the end product in June. Just don't start any new contracts and wait it out.

 

[Sweetfeld28]

The main reason I am switching to Cingular, from Verizon, isn't because of the Service Coverage, its because of: The iPhone and because of Verizon's prices, disabled features on Phones, and because their Customer Service sucks.

I would of switched a long time ago, if it wasn't for my friend being a Rep. for Verizon talking me into staying. But, since Verizon decided to raise the price of each Text Message sent or received from/to your phone by 5 cents, it has since pissed me off.

Digg This

 

[robbyx]

Thank goodness!

I'm so happy Apple didn't go with Verizon. If there's one company out there I cannot stand, it's Verizon. I've never experienced worse customer service from anyone (repeatedly). Cingular, on the other hand, has very good service. Apple made the right move by going with Cingular. Verizon would surely have soiled Apple's good name in one way or another.

 

[SplinterCell]

Just out of curiosity, how much will it cost Verizon or Sprint users to DROP their contract early? Anybody know?

$200 for T-Mobile. I checked but I don't think I'll switch. T-Mobile plans & service is far better than Cingular's...But the iPhone & it's features are temping.

 

[rdrr]

One more reason why I am glad VZ is not going with the iPhone

It amazes me that Verizon is still in business if they don't know the difference between dollars and cents.

http://verizonmath.blogspot.com/

 

[iomar]

Even though I love my verizon and I hate cingular but to get the iphone I will switch from verizon to cingular.. I think this is a big loss for Verizon.

 

[seashellz2]

I predict....

that as they are mass produced, the cost of the iPhone will come down somewhat, driving even more people to buy them, in DROVES.
Verizon will come crawling to APPLE on its knees when it sees how many of it's customers are driven to Cingular...again, in DROVES.
Word my mark!
So true:
>>"If I had a Verizon store in my basement, I would still rather deal with Apple...."
too funny for words
Being one of the last few Trogledites not having a cell phone, I seem to recall that ATT service sucked-
'scuse me if my memory is wrong.
Now 2 ugly companies are merging-and already ATT is phasing the Verison logo off of phones, Company letterheads, and ads. Soon the word "Verizon" will be a memory-like say PAN AM...

 

[flashphire]

Man, everybody's really hating on Cingular. I've had no troubles with it at all ever. Also, if you want to get out of your contract with other carriers, there's plenty of websites that offer advice on how to get out of your current contract without paying the termination fees. For instance, if they change their pricing on text messages- you can usually get out of your contract (since they've already broken it). So search around, because although it's not easy- getting out of your contract without paying is certainly not impossible.

 

[ChrisA]

Demanding a % out of the contract is a little over board.

Not really. The way it works now is you buy a phone a steep discount (below cost) from the service provider. and then part of the monthly service charge goes to pay for the phone. The typical contract now has maybe half the monthly fee going to pay for ther phone and half for service. What Apple was saying is that if the customer pays for the phone up front the service provider does not need so much mony every month because it is not having to cover the loss on the phone. So Apple was asking for a cut because Apple was bringing customers to the phone service company.

Looks like Cingular/ATT really is saving some money not having to provide discounted a phone hence the rumors for service discounts on Apple phones. I wonder how much of a typical contract is really finacing on the phone?

 

[Rychiar]

people bash verizon alot but they relaly do have the best coverage. on the east coast at least. I get better service than any of my non VZ friends. Customer service has always been grreat on the phone tho the instore people are dicks. but i've had phones replaced multiple times and they alwasy freely replace batteries. Leather cases and headsets and car chargers are also included standard with every phone unlike other places. Verizon at least lets u affordably use texting. I looked at cingular data plans and they seem utterly insane next to all the free in network stuff im used to with verizon. I am switchin for the iPhone as my verizon contract is up and my phone is ancient but i will likely regret changing carriers

 

[EstorilM]

5yrs...geeeesh!

I really dislike my Verizon service, so I have been looking for an excuse to change. The iPhone is perfect. I want it...Cingular here I come...

+1, especially with their service.

I'm kinda pissed that I just bought (rather, HAD TO because they wouldn't replace my 815 that dropped dead randomly for NO REASON, perfect condition) a VX8600 Chocolate Flip. I would have much rather put that $250 towards an iPhone in June.

 

[SiliconAddict]

5 years with Cingular (AT&T)?

Guess I'll be switching as soon as my contract runs out!

Sad. Really sad the day a phone is more important then the service you are getting. Be it customer, telephony, or data. This is why certain business have gotten so powerful in this country. People aren't willing to flip em the bird and go somewhere else. As such companies, like AT&T\Cingular, will continue to walk all over their customers as they gladly shell out a [bleep] load of money per month. Sad.

 

[mi5moav]

If Verizon where the carrier they would probably hijack my phone and make me put Windows Mobile on it. My wife finally gave up Verizon for T-Mobile last month. She had been brainwashed all those years, now she has no reason why she kept her overpriced phone and ridiculously expensive rate plan.

 

[robertnq]

Goodbye Verizon...

My contract is up in November...and I have no complaints about Verizon what so ever...

but I want that damn Phone...sorry

 

[SiliconAddict]

Man, everybody's really hating on Cingular. I've had no troubles with it at all ever. Also, if you want to get out of your contract with other carriers, there's plenty of websites that offer advice on how to get out of your current contract without paying the termination fees. For instance, if they change their pricing on text messages- you can usually get out of your contract (since they've already broken it). So search around, because although it's not easy- getting out of your contract without paying is certainly not impossible.

I do not know a SINGLE Cingular customer who likes or even loves them. The best I've been able to get is meh...they are OK. The complaints range from their coverage maps being outright lies, to customer service that blows with hurricane force, to mysterious upgrades on their service, to getting major run arounds when you try and cancel your service, and on and on and on. All this coming from several dozen people ranging from corp accounts, to personal accounts.
Frankly I'd rather go without a cellphone then go with Cingular. what it boils down to is that Apple has gotten in bed with the Microsoft of the mobile phone industry.

 

[PBGPowerbook]

One wonders what high speed wireless network AT&T (Cingular) is deploying. Has anyone heard? Rocketman

One does not wonder. HSDPA is active on cingular in a few areas, about to go up to 3.6Mbits. They have a few handsets ('blackjack', RAZR, 8525) that use it. And Jobs has said that there will be a 3G iphone (hsdpa on cingular) later on when more area is covered. There was a mini speculative debate on some sites recently as to whether this would be a software/firmware upgrade or entail a new device.

 

[lukeisme09]

cingular

with the combination of apple's great products and cingular's great service i can bet that thousands of people will switch to cingular. cingular is promoting this phone like no body's business. and we will probably start to see some apple commercials that are promoting the i phone. Im not sure where i am going at except for i really, really wish i owned cingular right now. $$$$$$

 

[tutubibi]

Verizon is going to rue the day they turned down this deal. When the iPhone becomes a run-away success there are going to be some unhappy board members over there. AT&T will siphone away custumers and Verizon will give Apple whatever they want when the AT&T deal is up.

Consider where the iPod landed five years after it's debut. I think it's foregone conclusion the iPhone is going to be an even bigger success story for Apple.

I don't think iPhone will be huge success story. Personally, I don't find it too appealing considering restrictions, price and (non)availability.

 

[phillipjfry]

Is there any reason that you guys discuss this other than that you live in Australia? Like when you post these things are you of the opinion that most readers are interested in telecommunications markets in Australia or that these markets significantly impact Apple and AT&T's business development and relationship?...
...For so long, I was optimistic about our chances of adding anything insightful. But day-by-day we fill these pages with what seems an endless, a cacophony, a plethora, a deluge, a lot of words and little else. We ramble on endlessly, never caring when, and if, we repeat each other. In fact, getting more posts rewards us as the all-important metric will go up as a result regardless of repition or whether what we say has anything to do with the issue at hand...
...And where are all of us who are willing to say maybe and let’s wait and see. In a few months, we’ll know more, for example, about whether we have a revolution or a flop.

I like long-winded threads like this, it gives some of us something to read while waiting for work to be done

In regards to the OP:
I believe Apple had its sights on Cingular all along. It first went to Verizon to try and bait the attention of Cingular, gave outrageous demands knowing Verizon wouldn't dare accept them, and made Cingular putty in their (Apple) hands. The iPhone will make a dent in the market, people will switch (or stay) with Cingular. But without a product on the market, promises will be made, posts will be highly flammable and only in June will we be able to actually provide details on how awesome the iPhone will be. Remember, the phone isn't even done yet. You don't know what features the phone will (not) have, no matter what the rumors claim. After all, that's why they are called 'rumors'.

 

[MacAddict1978]

Dont miss the point

We forget that though an i-pod is less exensive, it lacks the video features of the i-phone. Combine the price of a new phone (because even some phones with a contract renewal or as a new customer still can cost you $50-$200 if they are the hot new thing) the price of the i-phone is not out of line. Ditch a palm pilot and u have 3 devices (almost 4) in one unit. I don't think the price will scare hardly anyone off.

And so what if you go to apple for service? Year after year they are ranked in the top 5 for cusotmer service in their industry and beyond. Having used the top 3 carriers (sprint, att&t/cingular, and verizon) I would be elated to have apple handle my tech issues over their people or a third party insurance company. And hey, be able to talk to a person who speaks english and has a vested interest in the success of a product! I'm sure apple's strategy for service will not change on iphone. Your ipod stops working under apple care, they just give u a new one (sometimes a better model than what you bought 2 years ago).

I think without the phone feature the price of this device is fairly in line for the technology you are getting.

The only drawback I see to the phone is storage space.... (nano/mini anyone?) and that didn't stop people from buying with that factor before.

This is a win win for both parties. Verizon is notorius for bad service and crappy phones.

And network.... they all have the biggest, best, most powerful network according to their campaigns.

 

[Gasu E.]

Apple needed Verizon more than Verizon needed apple. Hell apple needs the cellular companies more than they need apple and yet apple demands to be the one in control.. typical apple.

Now Apple has the biggest cell phone company. And for the rest, including Verizon, it's one more competitive disadvantage.

Actually, you're both wrong. LOL. It's confusing, but in a nutshell:

Cingular bough AT&T Wireless --> Cingular Wireless

AT&T (The big company) bought Cingular Wireless --> AT&T

Cingular spent BILLIONS of dollars to create their brand, and now to throw it all away. Irony.

w00master

Add to that: SBC (a big company, and former baby bell) bought the near defunct AT&T solely for their name.

Even after all these years and BILLIONS of dollars, "AT&T" is still the strongest brand name in US telecom, and the only US telecom brand that has any international cachet.